car mess

I was driving the kids somewhere the other day and while sitting at a traffic light, started thinking about the mess the car was in. Trash everywhere. Zach's sports equipment covering the floor. There was a tennis racquet, a light saber, numchucks, some soccer socks. Old juice boxes, sports drink bottles and granola bar wrappers. Books and papers full of drawings. Hockey pants. A water bottle. If someone were to analyze the family that drove this car, not only were they slobs, but I guess in a good way, they were obviously active - witness all the sports stuff - used too. And I guess you could say the family was creative - the papers full of drawings. And then maybe that the family had young kids who liked to read - the books. I read an article this past year about a woman who was doing an analysis on the contents of people's cars. She hadn't revealed her hypothesis yet, but if she did many multiple kid family's cars, I'm sure she found about the same thing - active chaos.
So then after analyzing our mess, I thought why is it that if you see a dad get out of a messy car, you feel for him. You think, what a great dad, taking care of the kids. And you ignore the mess in the car because it's almost expected. Now picture a mom getting out of this messy car with kids in tow, and if you are a mom, you might feel sorry for her or feel kinship with the mom. Now instead, you see a woman coming out with no kids in sight. You see the mess of the car, and you wonder what her problem is. Why is this woman such a slob! You know what I mean? A guy could get out of a messy car (with kids or not) and you don't think much of it. A girl gets out of a messy car and you think she has problems. What is it in our female brains that makes mess stand out so much? And riddle you with guilt? Even if you invite someone to your house, if the house is a mess, it's reflected on who? The mom or the wife. She can't take care of her household. She's on a sinking ship and obviously can't captain.

sleepwalking

I have something new to add to my motherhood paranoia. Yes, that paranoia that many mothers have of the worst things possible happening to their children even when there's a one in gazillion chance of it ever happening. Sleepwalking. Not my sleepwalking. Asia sleepwalking! I've heard her and Zach talk in their sleep before, that's not new. We all do that. But last night, John and I were watching a movie and I heard something outside my bedroom door. John paused the movie and I opened the door to see Asia kneeling on the floor. She had both hands twisting something imaginary and she was muttering something. I heard that you're not supposed to interrupt sleepwalkers, so I just picked her up and led her back to bed. She eventually woke up and told me she was thirsty. It spooked Zach too because he had heard something and got out of bed. I told him to go back to bed, but he came back to Asia's room a few times to see if she was okay. I wonder what she was dreaming about though. It was like she was turning two faucet knobs or something. Anyway, now I'm wondering, do I need a gate in front of the stairs? Would she fall down them? Would she walk somewhere else and hit her head? Ahhh! You get the paranoia now. So tonight, I put a bunch of stuffed animals around her legs. Hoping that they would deter her from moving too much. Or maybe they'll make a sound when they fall off the bed and she'll wake up. Good strategy, right? Stay tuned.

Back to School

Well the kids have been in school now for almost two weeks. They both love it so far. Zach has a new teacher - her first time teaching second grade. She's taught K and 3rd grade. Student-taught 1st and 5th. She's engaged. And yes, she's young! I think Zach will like her. She seems the type that all the young boys will like. She's pretty, dresses well and hip, and again, she's young and even single right now. She told us a story tonight at the parent/teacher opening night about how last year, her boyfriend sent flowers to the school before they were engaged. All the kids, especially the boys, wanted to know all about this person who sent the flowers, especially if it was a boy friend. Anyway, just the fact that she said she doesn't like to keep the kids at the desks in their seats, sounds like Zach will have a good time.

Asia too is enjoying Kindergarten. She's so ready for it. And she has so many friends in that grade that she sees in class or at lunch and recess. She has Zach's K teacher, too, so we know she's in good hands.

Here's a pic from the first day of school.